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ROSES - Part 3 |
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In this book, roses are referred to by their original, and therefore correct, names. The most effective way to kill the false name is by ignoring it, but circumstances have been such that the wrong title has been widely advertised. In some instances a rose came to be known by its second name before it was discovered that some other name held priority for the variety. Although it should be done, it is not always easy to persuade the public to cease calling a rose by its accepted name and commence calling it by its rightful title. Had the second World War not interfered with our long-established practice of importing novelties direct from the hybridists, we would have received the varieties under their correct names and would never have known them by any other names. Instead, many roses have come to us through America, where they had already been grown for several years under a "catch-trade" name.
This scheme for international registration of names of horticultural varieties of all plants is devised solely for the protection of the interests of growers of any type of plant. Our immediate concern is with the naming of roses. Under these rules and recommendations the raiser of each new rose is required to seek registration of the proposed name for the variety by submitting it to one of the organizations that deal with the matter. Registration cannot be granted until each of the international organizations has approved of it. Any of these bodies may reject the title for any reason at all. Apart from such an objection as duplication, there may be a cause for refusing registration in one country but not in another. For example, a rose has been called Anzac in America, but it cannot be sold under that name in Australia because the use of the word is prohibited in all matters of trade. Another rose was called Nigger Boy in Australia, but this was regarded as an offensive title in America and the listing of the rose or even the mention of it in the daily press has caused racial troubles in the States. It is hoped to avoid these innocent errors, as well as blatant misnaming. Until a rose is granted registration under its chosen name, it will not be permissible to list it in catalogues or to display it. Obviously it is not possible to punish those who do not comply with these rules, but reputable nurserymen and horticultural organizations are certain to co-operate readily, and that is all that is necessary to ensure successful enforcement. Though new in the horticultural world, similar regulations have been in existence in other spheres for a very long time, and are enforceable by law in many instances. It is to be hoped that eventually gross misnomers may be forbidden and rose-growers may be misled no longer by a name such as Golden Dawn for a variety that, though yellow, is far from golden under any growing conditions, or by the name Improved Ce'cile Brunner, which is a beautiful rose but bears no resemblance whatever to the well-known older variety. |
